Military Veterans in the country have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the approval of bulk payment of the balance of Security Debarment Allowance to all veterans using equal and equitable payment template for all, regardless of retirement year.
Aside the bulk payment, President Tinubu was also called upon to ensure that the approved SDA fund is augmented in order to be able to pay all veterans, using the new salary scale currently being implemented in the country
It would be recalled that the payment of Security Debarment Allowance to veterans has been one of the issues of recent agitations by retired veterans across the country, with threats of protests, but which the minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru has assured will be addressed, resulting in the setting up of a Military Veterans Welfare Committee for the Review of the SDA.
Chairman of the Committee, Air Commodore Isaac Olufemi Oguntuyi (Rtd) who made the call at a media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, disclosed that there is need for an upward review of salaries and pensions of serving and retired personnel of the armed forces of Nigeria noting that a situation where a Private Soldier and equivalent who has signed to put his life on the line and die for the country is being paid less than N60, 000 a month does not look befitting.
Consequently, he said, “Salaries and Pensions payments should be reviewed periodically to conform to inflationary trends. The new salary structure must also reflect a bridge of the wide disparity between all ranks and subsequently, an appropriate increase has to be effected across board”.
Air Commodore Oguntuyi (rtd) also disclosed that the payment of palliatives promised all veterans by President Tinubu would be paid by the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs between the end of this month January and latest by the end week of February assuring retired veterans that the current crisis involving the minister, Betta Edu will not affect payment of the palliatives already approved by the President.
Furthermore, he urged the national assembly to pass the Veterans Federation of Nigeria bill, with the establishment of the Veteran Affairs Commission, with a Director General (DG) who must be a retired officer, not below the rank of a Brigadier General or equivalent from the Navy or Air Force
Expatiating on the need for bulk payment of the SDA, Oguntuyi said, “Its initial non implementation to majority of the veterans was mainly due to the wrong interpretation of the manual of financial administration (MAFA) 2017 for the armed forces of Nigeria which was graciously rectified for the benefit of all retirees.
“The veterans associations appreciate the gesture of the former President in the approval of over N134billion for SDA to be paid to all categories of the deserving veterans. It is also noteworthy that so far, only four tranches of the payment of the SDA have been made. For this, the veteran’s community is eternally grateful. However, the template used to compute the SDA for veterans who retired before 2010 was unjust, making some of them to receive very paltry amounts as their share”.
Continuing he said, “In respect of this SDA payment, we are happy to inform the veterans that the Minister of Defence has promised to seek Mr. President’s approval for the release of funds to the Military Pensions Board in other to effect implementation.
“The military Pensions Board has completed the calculation of the needed shortfalls for the bulk payment of the remaining SDA using the same template for all veterans regardless of retirement year.
Air Commodore Oguntuyi commended President Bola Tinubu for his interest and magnanimity towards the welfare of veterans in the country pointing out that it was a thing of great encouragement that the President considered and approved palliatives for the military veterans.
He also commended the minister of Defence, Badaru for his passion for the welfare and plight of veterans and his promise to interface with President Tinubu towards ensuring better treatment of veterans.
Other speakers at the event include Air Commodore Sani Zakari (rtd) who is a member of the committee and harped on conducts that takes into consideration, the security of the nation and Air Commodore Emmanuel Golit (rtd) who spoke on the need for the federal government to support post housing initiatives for serving and retired personnel
